Project Grant H8J54652

This federal Project Grant award of $1,000,000, awarded on December 1, 2024 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the Community Health Centers program (CFDA 93.224), will support Healthfirst Family Care Center, Inc. and SSTAR in expanding operational hours to improve healthcare access for underserved populations in Fall River, MA.

The funding will enable Healthfirst to increase its weekly hours by 5 and SSTAR to increase by 12 hours, allowing for more early morning, late evening, and weekend appointments. This will address barriers such as long wait times, high no-show rates, and patient backlogs, particularly at SSTAR. The grant will support additional clinical and non-clinical staffing, as well as facility upgrades, to accommodate the increased patient volume. Ongoing quality assurance, patient feedback, and utilization monitoring will ensure the expanded hours effectively meet community needs.